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“It’s going to be nice to not have to answer any more questions about Victor and his contract status with the team,’’ Manning said via e-mail.

We must collectively bite our tongues, however. Less than a year from now the "what's the latest on Victor Cruz?" questions will morph into "what's the latest on Hakeem Nicks?" But, at least for a moment, we will be spared that repeated and seemingly relentless question.

But, after a few minutes to digest it, Manning was finally able to address what this contract extension for Cruz means to the team.

“It’s great to get Victor signed long-term and before the start of training camp," Manning wrote. “Obviously, he has been a big part of our offense. He has worked really hard on the field to become the player he is and I look forward to continuing our work together."

Having his two top wide receivers play a season without major distraction is going to be key for Manning & Co. Cruz's mind is now cleared and there are no lingering questions, while Nicks is anxious to hit the field, stay healthy and play for what could be a huge contract of his own.

“Who cares if Nicks makes Cruz, Cruz makes Nicks, or Eli makes one or the other or both. ”

Well , I think its very important , if as a team management , you feel that Eli can make or break a lot of WRs then you feel you dont have to pay them so much because you can replace the parts . Now , granted , the receivers are not completely interchangeable but if these guys think its just their own talent thats gotten them the stats and money they are getting paid then lets look at a list of Wrs from the Giants who have lets politely say have done less well than when they were with the Giants .Steve Smith , Kevin Boss to start . Also , Im sure someone can find stats for Hixon playing with Eli and playing elsewhere . So , yes I do care

This ranking of wide receivers is getting silly. Frankly, even more silly than the rankings of quarterbacks. I’ve said many times, the measure of an NFL quarterback is whether he can have a significant influence on his team getting to, and then winning, the Super Bowl. If he can do that, who cares how he supposedly compares to others? The same is true for wide receivers. There are so many exogenous factors related to the performance of any receiver that ranking them is hopeless. Would Jerry Rice be the greatest of all time if he hadn’t played with Montana and under Walsh? Might Steve Largent be considered the best had his team won championships? Might Don Hudson be the greatest of all time had he played in the 1950′s and 60′s instead of being done by then? So someone who confidently insists that Andre Johnson is better than Hakeem Nicks, or that Nicks is better than A.J. Green, really has no basis other than his/her own opinion and set of eyes. It becomes a stupid argument quite quickly.

And the use of two years of stats to compare receivers when one of them was damaged goods through 50% of that time period shows absolutely nothing. It’s an interesting conversation-starter, nothing more.

What’s relevant is this: the Giants now have Victor Cruz for the next six years (if they want him for that long); they have Reuben Randle for the next three years at a cheap price; and they will in all probability sign Hakeem Nicks for another five years at some point in the next 12 months (hopefully sooner rather than later). I don’t think any team out there will be able to match that talent on the outside. And that level of talent, along with Eli and their running game (plus at least B+ talent at tight end) will result in what I’ve been insisting will be the case for months now: an offense that will be extremely hard to defense and can, by itself, carry this team deep into the playoffs every year if they are matched with a “just average” defense and what should be a good kicking game.

I think the 2013 season will be a huge test of this coaching staff, because given the obvious talent on offense, and the obvious “promise” on defense, there will be no excuse for a mediocre season. If they have another 9-7 season and either miss the playoffs or just barely squeeze in, the only explanation will be injuries or really poor coaching. Like many here, I have ZERO confidence in Perry Fewell, although I have come around to seeing the rationale for his bend-don’t-break-take-the-ball-away approach. I just don’t think that is the right way to use the personnel that we have. We have plenty of speed on the outside on defense now. Use it to get to the QB instead of using complex “hand-offs” of receivers from covering linebackers to others that only seem to confuse the secondary. And start attacking by making use of the youngsters on defense who can be difference-makers if given the opportunity. Relying on takeaways is a VERY risky approach, because if you don’t get them in a big game you will probably lose, and just one of those in the playoffs ends your season. And Gilbride should stop with his avuncular conversations about “X” having to learn the offense better as if he’s a nuclear scientist speaking of the grad students in his program. With the talent he has now his offense should score 27-35 points in every game. He’s out of excuses too.

Reese and his personnel people have created a terrific roster. The coaches have to allow the players to succeed.

I understand the Fewell is basically waiting for the offense to make a mistake. And in the event the opposing QB is good, then he hopes to delay the inevitable TD by keeping the big plays down and hoping his D starts representing inside the 20 yard line. Not really bad if your own offense is kicking the $h|+ out of the other defense.

But attacking does slow down the other defense. And it keeps them from taking liberties because they don’t know where the next punch will be coming from. That will cause QB to hurry, and OC’s to worry about the health of their QB in the pocket or out. I’d love to see Lovey Smith as Giants D coord.